Later this year when the International Softball Federation’s (ISF) XI Women’s World Championship takes place in Beijing, China, one of the 16 participating teams will be making their debut at the event. DPR Korea will compete alongside the likes of some of the 2004 Olympic Softball participants, but this appearance shouldn’t be considered a novelty. The international softball community should have seen it coming.

In December 2004 at the 8th Asian Women’s Softball Championship in the Philippines, DPR Korea stood second in their Pool following Preliminary Round play, winning four of their five games while outscoring their opposition 48-12. In the final standings they wound up fourth overall in the 12-team tournament, qualifying them for this year’s marquee ISF event. (As a result of finishing in the top six, they also qualified for the Asian Games, to be played this December in Qatar.) It was also worth noting that Asian Women’s Champion Japan took six of the seven individual awards given out following the event 15 months ago, with DPR Korea being the only other country to have a player earn hardware (catcher Kim Un Jun won the Most Stolen Bases Award). (She was also named to the Asia All-Star Team.)

Rather than bask in the satisfaction of having reached their first Women’s World Championship, they have been working to repeat their success from the Asian event. As the calendar changed to 2006, a shipment from the ISF went to DPR Korea, including 15 bats, 300 balls, 30 gloves, five catcher’s gloves, and two radar guns. (The ISF has also assisted that country’s national governing body with the development of softball in the school systems.)

Enough to consider the sport “all set” then?

No.

Currently the Softball Association of DPR Korea is preparing to host two different clinics. From Saturday to Monday (March 25-27) Bob Stanton, an ISF Regional Umpire-In-Chief from Canada, will lead an umpire clinic, including theory and practice. Also this weekend, Linda Wells, who coached the Greek team at the 2004 Olympic Softball competition, will arrive in Pyongyang. She will give a three-day coaching clinic that will cover training method of the pitcher and of batting, offensive and defensive tactics, and much more.

The 15 other national teams preparing for the Women’s World Championship should take note that DPR Korea obviously won’t be content “just being there” in August in Beijing.